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"There's no loitering, no sleeping. You'll have to move along, sir."

I was not dreaming.

"You've got to be kidding me! Good grief, my kids are asleep," I said.

"I'm sorry, sir, but those're the rules. Now, move along."

Instead, I closed my eyes. But I couldn't relax because I was so completely steamed.

Once at the grocery store, the boys spotted candy and, being the evil father, I refused to cave. Holy tantrums ensued. I wore my "nothing's wrong" face, but inside I, too, was screaming. A woman, clearly annoyed, thought she was doing me a favor when she said, "Do you want me to find their mother for you?" I should've fibbed, "I wish you could -- but she's dead," or, "I'm sorry, but he's away on a business trip." I just kept my mouth shut and smiled.

Numerous times grocery employees -- only women -- have said to me, "It's so nice to see a father out with his children so Mom can get a break." It's gotten to the point where I expect it.

Being a stay-at-home parent is not easy, and it may be harder for dads. Stay with me, moms; don't throw your boiling double-tall lattes at me yet. Some of you moms may not realize the vibes you emit.

Obviously, there must be something wrong with a man who stays home to care for his children instead of working a 60-hour-a-week corporate job. Stay-at-home dads must have been fired, or lack certain skills, or, worse, they must be felons. That's the impression I'm given.

And that stay-at-home-mom clique, I've learned, is a tough nut to crack.

A friend, a Philadelphia stay-at-home dad, wanted to get involved with an advertised neighborhood co-op run entirely by moms. He was told, "We'll have to think about it because we've never had a man here before." Himself having been born and raised by a feminist-activist single mom in the Bay Area, he was shocked. They called him back. "We have great news for you!" the mom-in-charge said. "The moms said you and your son are allowed here for a three-week trial period!" He could hardly contain his excitement.

Am I just being paranoid? Am I like Alvy Singer, Woody Allen's character in "Annie Hall," who reads conspiracy into everything? Am I a maninist? Possibly. But the experiences are real. And they sting.